First Major Flare Measured at
Anchorage, Alaska USA: The first major flare of the new 11 year cycle (Cycle 24) was
recorded just before 0200 UTC, February 15, 2011 at Reeve Observatory using an
e-CALLISTO spectrometer commissioned the day before. At the time of the event,
the Sun was setting and was about 4 degrees above the horizon. In a message to
RHESSI (Reuven
Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager) collaborators:

"NOAA 1158, was the source of the
first X-class flare of Solar Cycle 24. 1158 produced an X2.2 event at
02/15/01:45 UT. 1158 also produced an M2.2 at 02/14/17:26 UT. Both events were
associated with Earth directed CMEs. 1158 maintains its strong delta
configuration located within the intermediate portion of its large magnetically
complex E-type/beta gamma delta sunspot group."

Equipment consisted of:

e-CALLISTO receiver (eC37)

Yaesu G-450A rotator (tracking the
Sun at time of event)

KMA 144-500 log periodic antenna

Callisto and PstRotator software

Note: Items 2 and 3 comprised an interim
antenna system and have been since replaced by a Yaesu G-800SA rotator and
Creative Design CLP5130-1N log periodic antenna.